Crime Writers On...True Crime Review

Jerry Springer and his titular TV show became synonymous with trash entertainment, serving up daily episodes of sensational confrontations and bad behavior. But the host began his public life as a progressive local politician whose career was nearly derailed by a sex scandal. After a stint as a Cincinnati anchorman, Springer became one among a crowded field of new daytime talk shows. His program rose to the top, with its uniquely crude style of on-camera confrontations. Though it made him famous, Springer seemed indifferent to the show that bore his name…wishing to distance himself from its outlandish legacy and achieve something more positive.     In the Audible Original and Prologue Projects podcast series “Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer,” host Leon Neyfakh recounts Springer’s unlikely journey from immigrant to politician to ring master in television’s trashiest show. It takes a nuanced look at the man and whether his program created - or merely reflected - a corroding culture of misbehavior, spectacle, and cruelty. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FINAL THOUGHTS: JERRY SPRINGER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon [www.patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia]. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. [www.crimewriterson.com]

At a maximum security prison in Licking, MO, a select group of inmates take part in a restorative justice program in which they make quilts for foster children. The incarcerated men work in a special sewing room, using donated material to make the intricate, customized blankets. In this quiet setting, the men support each other as they craft quilts of surprising artistry. Several say the project is more than an activity - it provides them an opportunity to atone for their crimes and give back to the community. Academy Award nominee for Best Short Documentary, “The Quilters,” is now streaming on Netflix. The film takes us inside the South Central Corrections Center. We see the quilters take pride in their work and their contributions to children in need, all while processing their own struggles through the restorative power of art. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE QUILTERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: hot spot [https://www.sciencenews.org/article/uranus-energy-planet-sun]. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon [www.patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia]. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. [www.crimewriterson.com]

Seven years after his release, former juvenile lifer David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez is thriving as an inmate advocate and emerging podcaster. But despite his successes, he struggles with his new reality of supervised freedom and time lost in prison.  Journalist Maria Hinojosa also attempts to balance her often-fraught relationship with a longtime friend who’s also her interview subject.  Meanwhile, as Suave grows personally and professionally, he grapples with situations that could send him back to prison. After a Pulitzer Prize win for season one, Futuro Media’s “Suave” returns for a second season. This time, Suave wrestles with the complexity of freedom and lifetime supervision, all while searching for love, success, and a renewed sense of identity. It also follows Maria’s attempts to nurture Suave, though tensions about their connection grow. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SUAVE" SEASON TWO BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon [www.patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia]. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. [www.crimewriterson.com]

Jason Corbett was the widowed father of two young children when he began a relationship with his American au pair, Molly Martens. They moved from Ireland to North Carolina to start a new life. But it came to a violent end after Molly and her father killed Jason with a baseball bat and a brick, claiming self-defense. As authorities charged the pair with murder, the Corbett family said the attack was premeditated, accusing Molly of trying to obtain custody of Jason’s kids. But when the Martens received a new trial, both sides said the true story of the marriage had yet to be revealed.  The Netflix documentary film “A Deadly American Marriage” recounts the troubling 2015 case and its dueling narratives of who was the actual aggressor. It explores issues around domestic violence, unreliable testimony, and imperfect victims. It also focuses on Corbett’s children, now teenagers living in Ireland, as they deal with their lingering trauma. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: once, bitten [https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/woman-bitten-by-australian-shepherd-refused-4k-because-every-dog-is-entitled-to-one-bite-tribunal-rules/]. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon [www.patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia]. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. [www.crimewriterson.com]

In 2000, a group of career criminals known for their audacious heists gets recruited for what would be the biggest robbery in history. Lee Wenham and his crew draw up a plan to steal the world’s largest diamond on display for the public at London’s Millennium Dome.   As the thieves work out how to thwart guards, vaults, and impregnable glass, an elite police unit has been monitoring their plans. While the so-called Flying Squad has clocked elements of the bandits’ scheme, it won’t be until the day of the heist when they learn how it all fits together. Netflix’s “The Diamond Heist” recounts the daring daylight caper to steal the 203-carat, £200-million Millennium Star. Produced by movie director Guy Ritchie, the three-part series is high on action film pace and style. We hear from both the cops and robbers involved, who tell their stories and take part in the re-enactments.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE DIAMOND HEIST" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon [www.patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia]. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. [www.crimewriterson.com]